Water-soluble tea product



Aug. 24, 1926. I 1,596,986

I. S. MERRELL WATER SOLUBLE TEA PRODUCT Filed Feb. 24. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet II Aug: 24 1926.

' 1 ,596,986 I. s. MERRELL WATER SOLUBLE TEA PRODUCT Fild Feb. 24. 1922 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 24,1926. 1,596,986

I. s. MERRELL WATER SOLUBLE TEA PRODUCT Filed Feb. 24. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 fiyx' 3 Z5 /7 a ,rg

24 mi maasm 17 lpatented Aug. 24, E926.

STATES PATENT omca.

mums S. MERRELL, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO MERRELL SOULE COM- PATTY, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

WATER-SOLUBLE TEA. PRODUCT.

Application filed February 24, 1922. Serial No. 538,883.

This invention relates to a process for obtaining the solids and flavoring matters of an infusion of an herb insubstantially dry form and the product of that process. The infusion of an herb, such as for instance, an infusion of tea, especially Brazilian tea, contains but a very small percentage of solids, perhaps one-half of one percent, an amount too infinitesimal to permit practical desiccation of such an infusion by the spraying process. Very often more than one-half percent of the solids of the solution to be dried by spraying the same into a current of moisture absorbing air is lost in the escaping air. lit is desirable to produce a substantially dry product which upon reconstitution with water, will -make an infusion of an herb, such as an infusion of a=tea, and I have discovered. a process capable of effecting that result in a satisfactory manner and have produced a novel and desirable product. My invention will be understood from a description of its application to one particular infusion of an herb, as an infusion of tea the same being used as a specific illustration of its adaptability to other infusions of herbs. The infusion of an herb may be obtained in any desired or suitable manner, as by steeping any herb such as tea. The infusion so obtained is mixed or combined in any suitable manner with a body-formingmaterial or desiccat'able addenda which in combination with the solids and flavoring matter of the herb infusion constitute a commercially dryable and collectible substance which can be reduced to powdered form and in that form retained for future reconstitution with water. Such a desiccatable addenda or body forming material is a product produced by thehydrolysis of starch, preferably glucose or corn syrup of high dextrin content. Many other materials may be found suitable for the urpose. The one used as an illustration 1s a product-considered preferable. Thehydrolization of starch for the purpose of this process may be effected in any desired manner. I will specifically refer to two suitable methdds. First, the dilute-acid method and second the diastase method.

' Firse, when starch and water are heated with a dilute-acid the starch molecule is gradually and progressively split up into other carbo-hydrates the main products in dextrine, maltose and dextrose.

illustrated an apparatus adapte substantially the order of their production being dextrine, maltose and dextrose.

The (product comprising dextrine, maltose an dextrose is commonly known as glucose or corn syrup.

Second, as illustrative sprouted barley contains an active principle called a diastase that will act on starch and convert it into Probably such products are progressively produced in a manner quite similar to their production by the acid treatment. The hydrolysis of starch,.therefore, either as stated by heating the same in combination with a dilute acid or by the action of a diastase, will re sult in the production of dextrine, maltose and dextrose in various pro ortions, depending upon the extent to which the conversion has taken place.v If the dilute-acid method be adopted and the process arrested as soon as a cooled sample of the liquid ceases to give a blue color with iodine, the

product contains a large percentage of dextrine, but if high pressure be employed and the action pushed further, dextrose is the main product. It may be suggested that by boiling starch with dilute acid until the cool liquid ceases to give a blue color with iodine, we have substantially pure dextrine. By continuing the boiling process, dextrine yields maltose, and the further carrying of the process splits the maltose molecule into. two parts of dextrose. These are products produced by the hydrolysis of starch.

The infusion of an herb produced in anysuitable manner and mixed or combined with a product produced by the hydrol S18 of starch to form a solution, is spraye or atomized, as by forcing the same under high pressure through a minute orifice, and in this form is introduced into a current of heated or moisture-absorbing air. The liquid content is substantially completel and instantaneously vaporized and the prod uct collects in the form of a fine, practically dry powder.

In the accompanying drawin I have 5 to carry out a preferred desiccating' step involving the process herein.

Figure 1 is a sectional view of such apparatus.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the air introducing device.-

Figure 3 is aosection of the air introducing evice taken at right angles to Figure 2.

.Figure 4 is a side elevation of a suitable spray nozzle.

Figure 5 is an end elevation of the same.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal sect1on of the same.

The eneral form. of the desiccating cham= her an collector disclosed is substantially the same as the structure shown in Letters= Patent No. 1,088,436, issued Feb. 24, 1919, to Merrell-Soule Company, as the assignor of I. S. Merrell, while the air-introducing devices are substantially the same as those disclosed in Letters-Patent No. 1,102,601 issued to Merrell-Soule Co. as the assignor of I. S. Merrell and O. E. Merrell, and the spray nozzle shown is substantially the same as that disclosed in Letters-Patent No. 1,183,393 issued to Merrell-Soule Co. as the assignor of I.. S. Merrell and O. E. Merrell.

The desiccating devices comprise a desiccatin chamber -1 of any suitable form and s ape, having a suitable screened outlet or dust collector 2-', the construction of the latter being substantially the same as that shown in said Letters-Patent above referred to.

The mixture of an infusion of an herb and the roduct produced by the hydrolysis of stare is forced under high pressure, thru a pipe 3- terminating in the spray nozzle -4 by means of which the solution is divided into infinitesimal particles. This atomized or spra ed solution is injected communicates with an air whirling chamber -6 disposed intermediate the wind trunk and the desiccating chamber. This chamber -6 is preferably of substantially circular cross-section and receives heated air under pressure from the trunk -5 through a plurality of tangential inlet channels -7-. These channels are shown as four in number, equally spaced around the whirling chamber and of-substantially equal conveyin capacity. Each channel may extend the ength of the cylindrical part 8-' of the chamber -6. The air forced from the trunk 5-- throu h these tangential channels is set into rapi whirling motion-by the cylindrical walls 8- and 9- of said annular wall -l1,' each of said concentric walls having its forward end tapered forwardly te ferm as annular constricted outlet communicating with the desiccatin chamber, and preferably the taper of t e wall 8- is somewhat eater than the taper of the wall 9-- to rther restrict the outlet, and decrease the pressure under which the air passes into the desiccating chamber.

The wall 9- may terminate a short distance at the rear of the termination of the wal110 and as the wall 9 is 0 en at'its rear it constitutes a substantially cy indrical chamber through which the pipe --3 passes to the spray nozzle --4-, and preferably the forward end of the spray nozzle is just in front of the termination of the wall -8'. This cylindrical chamber'formed within the wall 9 communicates at its rear with the trunk -5 and acts to convey a direct current of air surroundin and enveloping the spray as it is propclle through the spraying device, all surrounded and enveloped by the whirling current of air issuing thru chamber 6-; ,This construction is peculiarly efiicient, both in efiecting'instantaneous and substantially complete vaporization of the liquid constituents of the solution, and in eflecting an economy in space due perhaps to the rotary movement of the arr and s ray. The spraying device as shown in ig. 6 comprises abody 12--, a cap 13-, a casing 14- secured to the cap by threaded en agement in such a manner as to confine t e body 12 between the cap -13- and the casing 14=. Further, thenozzle comprises a spray disk 15--, a plug 16, a plug pin 17, a screen 18, a screen supporting ring -19 and a washer -20 all arranged in substantially the manner disclosed in the aforesaid patent so that the body 12- has a liquid whirling chamber 21- at the middle of its outer side to which the liquid is conveyed by two ducts 22-- which coinmunicate at their outer ends with the chamber --23- of the casing. The spray disk has a minute central orifice 25-- communicating-with the whirling chamber 21 and leadin to the evase adjutage 26 formed in t 6 cap -13-. The casing 14 is interiorly threaded at 27- to receive the li uid-conveyin pipe 3- through which t e liquid is orced under high pressure (as 2000 pounds to 3000 pounds to the square inch) by any suitable means as a pump (not shown).

The operation of this particular deslceating apparatus is substantially as follows. The air is introduced under pressure through the trunk 5- and forced into the desiccating chamber through the concentric chambers of the air introducin device in the manner heretofore descri ed. The liquid is introduced into this current of heated air in atomized condition, and is carried spirally forward by the heated air and the liquid constituents are substantially completely vaporized.

A portion of the powder gravitates to the bottom of the desiccating chamber and the remaining portions carried by the air escape into the dust collecting or screening device 2- whereby the air and vapor are separated from the powder carried thereby, the air and vapor escaping while the powder is retained within the collecting device and in the use of this particular apparatus the powder is later deposited within the desiccating chamber and commingled with the powder primarily collecting therein.

In referrin to the product of the spray process descri ed herein as comprising or consisting of spherical particles, I mean to include particles constituting complete spheres or fragments thereof.

The" expression a product of hydrolyzed starch and a product obtained by the hydrolysis of starch are deemed to include not only the immediate product such as glucose of varyin contents of dextrin, dextrose and maltose, ut also the derivatives or components of such roducts.

- It will be obvious that various forms of comprises a product. of hydrolyzed starch and the solids and flavoring matters of the infusion of an herb in the form of substantially dry spherical particles. The relative amount of the infusion of an herb and the product or hydrolized' starch constituting the solution to be sprayed may vary widely in accordance with the particular use to which the product is to be put, and the particular desires ot the user, and altho I have shown and described a specific process as constituting a perhaps preferred embodiment of that aspect of my invention, and a particular product as being the result of that process, I do not desire to limit myself to the details of the product nor toany particular' rocess of desiccation for producing that pro uct, exce t as the same may be specificall included in the claims hereto appende I claim:

1. A solid, water-soluble tea product having the cup characteristics of the tea used in the preparation of the infusion, composed of water-soluble extractives of tea.

2. A solid, water-soluble tea product having the cup characteristics of the tea used in the preparation of the infusion, composed of the solid water-soluble extractives of tea leaves and the volatile extractives to give the original aroma and flavor.

3. A solid, water-soluble tea product having the cup characteristics of the tea used in the preparation of the infusion, composed of water-soluble extractives of tea and suitable carbohydrates.

4. A non-hygroscopic, solid, water-soluble tea product havin the cup characteristics of the tea used in t e preparation of the infusion, composed of water-soluble extractives of tea and suitable carbohydrates.

5. A solid water-soluble tea product having the cup characteristics of .the tea used in the preparation of the infusion composed of water-soluble extractives of tea, and a substance obtained by the hydrolysis of starch.

6. A solid water-soluble tea product having the cup characteristics of the tea used in the preparation of the infusion composed of water-soluble extractives of tea and glucose.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set In hand this 18th da of February 1921.

v IRVT NG S. MERRELL. 

